Purpose: The Child Care Counselor provides for the day-to-day care, nurturing, supervision, and development of the youth assigned.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Maintains accurate and orderly procedures for dispensing medications.
- Assists in the ongoing medical care of residents.
- Provides transportation to residents as needed.
- Assures ongoing relationship and environment that promotes the residents feeling of self-worth.
- Maintain integrity of the program structure and insure the therapeutic environment of the program.
- Helps resident meet outside expectations (appointments, school, etc.)
- Fills in the gaps of the basic schedule with positive learning opportunities and experiences for the resident.
- Is flexible enough to deal with the unexpected with minimal disruption of the schedule.
- Schedules recreational activities for residents.
- Keeps team informed of scheduled activities of primary residents through use of changeover log and team meetings
- Maintains open communication with supervising Program Manager.
- Documentation: Effectively communicate written information to the right people in such a way as to establish an accurate record of each child's placement (Daily logs, etc.) and maintain accurate records.
- Maintains high household management standards.
- Maintains adequate cottage inventories
- Has a systematic approach to laundry needs.
- Prepares cottage meals according to USDA Standards.
- Helps promote an appealing, clean, healthy, and safe environment that is conducive to positive change.
- Establishes and maintains an environment that promotes the safety of the residents as evidenced by:
- Being aware of residents' whereabouts and attitudes
- Being aware of hazards and efforts to eliminate them
- Reporting illnesses and injuries to medical staff
- Completes maintenance requests in a timely manner
- Operates and maintains agency vehicles in a safe manner per policy.
- Supervision: Maintains supervision of residents in accordance with Policy and Procedure.
- Participates in activities with residents
- Communicates relevant information regarding youth with next shift using appropriate Methodist Home tools such as logs and shift change notes.
- Teaching: Implement the holistic teaching approach to child development.
- Crisis Management: Ability to handle crises in such a manner so as not to compromise the positive, therapeutic impact of other residents and/or program.
- Relationship Building: Develop and maintain effective therapeutic relationships.
- Understands how own emotions can affect resident care and where that impact is non- productive.
- Treats residents and families with respect.
- Initiates 1 on 1 contact with residents.
- Gives residents positive feedback.
- Role models good interpersonal and problem- solving skills with co-workers.
- Respects resident's rights in compliance with licensing policy.
- Is honest, constructive, and sincere with residents.
- Professionalism: Promote a professional, positive work environment as indicated by:
- Reports to shifts, meetings and training on time.
- Actively participates in campus activities in a constructive manner.
- Follows agency procedures in use of leave time.
- Is flexible and willing to fill in as needed.
- Represents themselves and the agency in a positive way.
- Uses good telephone skills.
- Conducts self-improvement (education, professional development)
- Uses direct communication.
- Demonstrates good problem-solving/conflict resolution skills
- Works toward team and agency goals
- Leadership: Role model and mentor for staff as indicated by:
- Takes initiative to implement good practice and meet licensing and accreditation standards.
- Assumes a leadership role in handling a crisis.
- Assess needs in crisis situations
- Interacts professionally and cooperatively with other parts of the agency (i.e. Human Resources, Finance, etc.)
- Other duties as assigned.
- Maintains a safe and healthy work environment.
- Completes assignments in a timely and accurate manner
- Upholds the mission and values of The Methodist Home.
- Complete training necessary to perform position consistent with program and agency staff development plans.
- Demonstrate and understand the sanctuary commitments.
- Demonstrate a commitment to democracy by actively participating in team decisions.
- Practice social responsibility evidenced by dependability and reliability.
- Communicate openly to establish and maintain effective working relationship with people at all levels.
- Utilize appropriate Sanctuary tools when interacting with colleagues and residents.
- Adhere to the seven commitments of Sanctuary when carrying out work responsibilities.
- Staff are required to have "eyes-on" supervision of the young people at least every 15 minutes. This means physically seeing the child.
- Staff can conduct checks more often than every 15 minutes, but checks cannot exceed the 15-minute timeframe.
- Staff should vary their night check routine in order to avoid a "learned pattern" of how night checks are performed.
- Staff should be aware of individual safety plans that may increase the level of supervision required.
- These "night checks" are then documented on every child throughout the night.
- Overnight schedules consist of ten-hour shifts; 10pm to 8am.
- Must be 21 years of age or older.
- Must have a valid Driver's License with minimum of four-year driving history and the ability to meet and remain in good standing in accordance with Agency insurance guidelines.
- Bachelor's Degree (preferably in Human Services related field) or High School Diploma/GED combined with experience working with children/adolescents.
- Knowledge of child care practices, developmental issues, and group processes and practices which are important to this position.
- Knowledge and demonstrated skills related to theory and practices for emotionally disturbed children.
- Personal characteristics and experiential background that will provide appropriate care for children, to win their respect, to guide them in their development, to manage a home for them effectively and to participate in the overall treatment program designed for the residents.
- Necessary stamina and temperament to work with children and youth (ages 6 to 20) who are experiencing crisis and/or emotional and/or behavior disorders.
- Maintain high level of confidentiality.
- Must be able to multitask in a fast-paced work environment.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to appropriately handle confidential information.
- Ability to understand and consistently implement policies and procedures of the Agency.
- Ability to interact and work cooperatively and effectively with other personnel and residents.
- Ability to show sensitivity and responsiveness to cultural difference in the service population
- Ability to uphold the mission and values of The Methodist Home.
- Ability to be trained in basic first aid, medication administration, CPR and crisis intervention.
- High level of energy required for working with people.
- Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services.
- Must have proficient computer skills and with programs such as Microsoft office.
- Must have active listening skills and critical thinking skills.
- Must have good reading comprehension by therefore understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Ability to meet and handle the public with poise and tact.
- Pleasant telephone voice.